Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775
These were the first shots fired between American and British troops. The British believed that two leaders of the Sons of Liberty, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, were hiding weapons there, so they decided to march on Lexington and Concord to find the weapons and arrest Adams and Hancock. The American colonists did not like this, so they gathered a militia to defend Lexington and Concord from the British. It is unclear as to who fired first, but this first shot was known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Both sides opened fire, and at first the Americans were pushed back, but they rallied and by the end of the day they were able to defeat the British.
Bunker Hill, June 16, 1775
A battle which lasted for two days between the British and American colonists. The colonists had been on Breed's Hill in order to protect the ships in Boston and the British did not like this, so they attacked hoping the colonists would retreat and go home. Instead the colonists fought back. The colonists were low on ammunition, so their commander Colonel William Prescott told his men "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Eventually the colonists forced to retreat because they had run out of gun powder and ammunition. The British had won, but they suffered heavy losses. Even though the battle was fought on Breed's Hill, it has been remembered as the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Trenton, December 26, 1776
The American army crossed the frozen Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. Once they had crossed the river, the Americans launched a surprise attack on a drunken Hessian force that had been celebrating Christmas. The battle lasted about 45 minutes and 900 Hessian soldiers were taken prisoner. The Americans continued marching to Princeton and won there, too. They were great victories for the Americans, who gained not only badly needed guns and ammunition, but a big moral boost.
Saratoga, September 19, 1777
Considered the turning point of the war, this American victory helped to convince France to enter the war on the side of the Americans. British General John Burgoyne had come up with a plan to crush the American army...only it didn't work. Two other generals were supposed to meet up with Burgoyne in order to march against the American army, only the other generals never received the message from Burgoyne to meet up with him at Saratoga. Burgoyne eventually surrendered his army to the Americans on October 17, 1777. Soon after this American victory, France began sending money, weapons, and troops to help the Americans defeat the British.
Valley Forge, December 1777-June 1778
The Pennsylvania camp where the American army stayed and trained from December 1777 to June 1778. The winter was harsh, disease was also spreading throughout the camp, and the army was short on supplies including: food, clothing, and weapons. Under the leadership of George Washington and Baron von Steuben, the Prussian drill sergeant, the soldiers did not give up, and were kept occupied with military drills which taught them how to fight and how to be an army. These drills made them better, tougher soldiers.
Yorktown, September 9, 1781
The American victory that ended the Revolutionary War. British General Charles Cornwallis had met defeat in Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis was completely surrounded by the Americans on land, and the French ships in the harbor. Cornwallis stood and fought, but in the end the Americans won the battle and the war. At the surrender ceremony, Cornwallis' sword was given to General Benjamin Lincoln as a symbol of surrender while a British band played "The World Turned Upside Down." This was the last major battle of the war, even though some minor skirmishes took place, until the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783.
Treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783
The document that officially ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. According to the treaty, Britain had to recognize the nation of the United States of America as an independent country, and had to remove all of its troops from the United States. The treaty also established new borders for the United States, which included all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The United States agreed to pay all debts owed to Great Britain and to not persecute any loyalists still living in America, and allow those Loyalist who left America to return.